The Sonata Hybrid has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Camry Hybrid’s blind spot costs extra.
To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Sonata Hybrid has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Camry Hybrid.
The Sonata Hybrid’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Camry Hybrid doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.
Both the Sonata Hybrid and the Camry Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is safer than the Toyota Camry Hybrid:
|
Sonata Hybrid |
Camry Hybrid |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Chest Compression |
.5 inches |
.7 inches |
Neck Stress |
98 lbs. |
136 lbs. |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
29/21 lbs. |
266/310 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is safer than the Toyota Camry Hybrid:
|
Sonata Hybrid |
Camry Hybrid |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Hip Force |
539 lbs. |
752 lbs. |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Hip Force |
577 lbs. |
622 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is much safer than the Camry Hybrid:
|
Sonata Hybrid |
Camry Hybrid |
Overall Evaluation |
ACCEPTABLE |
POOR |
Structure |
ACCEPTABLE |
ACCEPTABLE |
|
Driver Injury Measures |
|
Head/Neck |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Head Injury Criterion |
195 |
391 |
Head Peak Forces |
no contact |
82 G’s |
Neck Tension |
379 lbs. |
402 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
22 lbs. |
45 lbs. |
Torso |
ACCEPTABLE |
MARGINAL |
Shoulder Deflection |
1.54 in |
1.85 in |
Torso Max Deflection |
1.5 in |
1.61 in |
Pelvis |
ACCEPTABLE |
MARGINAL |
Pelvis Force |
982 lbs. |
1272 lbs. |
Head Protection |
GOOD |
MARGINAL |
|
Passenger Injury Measures |
|
Head/Neck |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Head Injury Criterion |
111 |
168 |
Torso |
GOOD |
ACCEPTABLE |
Shoulder Deflection |
.75 in |
.98 in |
Shoulder Force |
201 lbs. |
290 lbs. |
Torso Max Deflection |
.71 in |
1.26 in |
Torso Deflection Rate |
5 MPH |
6 MPH |
Pelvis Force |
1339 lbs. |
1361 lbs. |
Head Protection |
GOOD |
GOOD |